Friday Randomness

Here is a hodgepodge of what is on my mind right now....

1.  I just had my glucose screening test and things are not looking so good.  After drinking the drink I headed over to my Ob-Gyn right down the hall and took my standard urine test.  Well, there was sugar in my urine and it is doubtful I could have processed the drink in the 3 minutes between finishing the drink and peeing in the cup.  I also gained 8, yes 8 pounds in 3, yes 3 weeks.  Yeah, I know I "popped" in those three weeks, but still 8 pounds is 5 pounds too many! EEEK!  That means I am now 17 pounds over my prepregnancy weight.  Or if you count all the weight I lost at the beginning I have now put on a total of 30 pounds.  Luckily, they don't really count all the weight I lost those first 13 weeks!

2.  Okay, everyone says such horrible things about the dreaded orange sugar drink.  Well, I kinda liked it!  To me, it tasted like orange bug juice (or ghetto juice, as Kiel calls it).  I had no problem drinking it down and would have gladly had more if it didn't make me feel a little woozy!

3.  My blood pressure is still nice and low, thank god!  Today it measured at 105/70.  I'm pretty sure that's not too shabby!

4.  I just baked some chocolate chip banana muffins and they smell incredible!  I'll sneak one tonight and that will be it for me!  Kiel can have the rest and I'll bring a few down to my daddy tomorrow.

5.  Tomorrow I'm headed to my cousin's baby shower with my mom and my sister.  I can't wait to see that side of the family, my cousin's baby bump, and all the goodies her little man will get!  Our little boys are expected to be about 6-7 weeks apart!

6.  The doctor measured my fudal height again and said, "Good, right on target."  My response, "So, 26-27 cm?" Doc, "Well, umm actually 28."  She must have thought this was my 28 week appointment, but since she has been on vacation twice in the past few months, my weeks are now a little off.  So, I'm about 1 1/2 centimeters larger than I should be at this point.  That equates to about 1 1/2 weeks bigger than I should be.   Hmmmm? Another sign of gestational diabetes?

7.  Kiel and I are planning to go see The Hunger Games on Sunday.  I was shocked when he agreed to come with me.  I only asked because I know he will probably like all of the action in the movie.  I am so excited to see the Katniss/Peeta dynamic, oh and to go on a date with my man!

8.  We got all the paperwork to preregister for the hospital and prepare the birth certificate today at our appointment.  How exciting is that?!?!  Everything is becoming more real!

9.  This week has been super stressful and I am soooo happy it is finally the weekend!  I cannot wait to sleep in the next two days!

10.  They are forecasting snow for tomorrow!  Really?  We just had record breaking 80+ degree weather in March and now just a day before April Fool's Day we are going to have that icky white stuff on the ground?  New England weather is more bipolar than a preggo chick!


Happy Weekend Everyone!

A Mother's Love

Last weekend my mom made the 600 mile roundtrip drive to watch my brother's double header.  She did over 10 hours of driving in one day to only spend about 1 hour with him when they went out to dinner.  I told her she was crazy.  I talked about her to my friends.   They all agreed she was crazy.  Who does that much driving in one day for an hour of quality time?

But then I thought about it from a different perspective.  A mother's perspective.

Would I do the same for my boy?  Absolutely!  And then some!

Why hadn't I thought of this before?  I guess what I needed was my own son growing inside me to really understand the power of a mother's love.

I would drive 6,000 miles in a day for my son if I had to.  Give him my kidney, my life savings, my everything, my life.  There is not one thing I wouldn't do for him.

I guess there is no telling what a mom wouldn't do for her child.  

Ten on Tuesday

In order to provide  my sister with more reading material, I am trying to set up some type of a blogger schedule.  Ten on Tuesday provided by Roots and Rings, is my latest attempt to have something to blog about every day of the week.

1. Ikea: over-hyped and confusing or genius furniture company?
Perhaps if I hadn't lived 2 miles away from an Ikea when we lived in the condo I would still be in love with the place.  However, despite the numerous times we went there I could never figure the set up of the darn place!  It is definitely not a place you can just run in and out to get the one thing you need.  It is an experience.  

2. Your favorite interior-decorator-type person wants to makeover one room in your house. Which room do you choose and why?
Can I choose the patio?  We actually don't have one yet and I really want one.  I would love to have a stone walkway and fire pit and grilling area.  We are planning to build one either this summer or next and I would love some decorator to come and do it for us.  

3. Describe the furniture in your childhood bedroom. Did you like it? Where is that furniture now?

My parents bought the set from my uncle's store, I believe.  It was dark wood with flowers stained onto it.  They saved my headboard for when I have a little.  And of course I liked it!

4. When you’re done with furniture, what do you do with it? Donate it to Goodwill OR Sell it on Craigslist OR Put it by the curb and hope the trash guys take it?
We haven't had a chance to get rid of any of our furniture yet.  My old dress is still chilling under our porch.  I think he will use it for firewood one day.  Our other old dressers are about to be refinished to be used in baby boy's room!

5. My Pinterest furniture style could best be described as
funky/eclectic
antique/shabby chic
modern/minimalist
so random and varied it’s undefinable
I don't think I have pinned much in the form of furniture.  But what I have pinned tends to be antique-ish.  Although we have few antiques in our house now!

6. Name the most important furniture/toy in a toddler’s playroom. And why?
Not quite sure about this one.  Book shelves maybe?

7. Your parents (or grandparents or other relative) are giving away all their furniture. Which piece do you really want?
I don't even know. Right now we don't even have any space to take anything else.  I guess eventually we might need a new guest bed, but I think the guest room will turn into another kid room somewhere in the relatively near future.  So maybe a couch that converts to a bed for the man cave. 

8. Your biggest furniture buying or home decorating regret?
We we moved into this house we bought a lot of stuff from Bob's Discount Furniture.  Basically because it was cheap.  And yes, it is cheap.  I hate how our bedroom set is already so nicked.  

9. $1000 gift card! Do you want it to Ethan Allen, Ikea, Pottery Barn Kids?
Pottery Barn Kids.  They have so many cute things I want for baby boy, but I can't justify spending that much money!  But if   I had a gift card, that would be the perfect excuse!

10. Bunk beds, loft beds, trundle beds, or canopy beds?
I hate canopy beds!  I guess bunk beds are kind of cool, as well as loft beds.  I like how they save on space so there is more room for playing!

26 Weeks

Only 14 more weeks to go (or 11 to be considered full term!).  I hope it flies because I am starting to really feel preggo!   The heartburn is crazy!  Cutting out soda has done absolutely nothing.  It just comes and goes as it pleases, but over the past 3 days it has pretty much just stuck around.  If what they say is true, little boy is going to be covered in hair!

When it comes to my body, I consider myself rather lucky.  I am not very achy and I don't really feel all that bad other than the heartburn.  I have been sleeping rather well.  I wake up whenever I have to roll over so I can adjust all my pillows, but I usually have no trouble falling back to sleep!   I hope this trend continues!

Baby boy has been moving all around and I think I am even noticing, what I call sliding.  So this is what it feels like: He gets into a comfy position for himself and then I just feel a tingly sensation sliding down my belly.  Is this gravity pulling him down?  It feels so weird!   He also seems to be nudging my ribs the past two days.  Lucky for me I am able to apply a little downward pressure to get him back where I want him to be.  I also consider myself lucky since he is taking it easy on my ribs.  From what I hear, baby kicks to the ribs are not very pleasurable.

Overall, I think I am having a great pregnancy.  Let's hope my diabetes test later this week comes back perfect as well!

Oh and thanks for voting in the birth predictor poll!  And I am thrilled to hear you all think he will be here before July 2nd too!

-The Weekly List -

How far along? 26 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Now it is more like 15-16 pounds.  I really have been meaning to take my measurements, since I took them just before I became pregnant.  I'm curious to see if I really am "all belly" and haven't put on any extra inches in other places.  

Maternity clothes? Yeah, but check out my pic below in my Ragnar shirt from last year.  I look like I stuffed a bowling ball under it!

Stretch marks? No, and I've been slacking on the cocoa butter!  Oh boy!

Sleep: Still sleeping rather well for someone with a belly like this.  I am starting to get tired more easily again.  

Best moment this week: Really feeling his kicks from the outside. Grandma Debbie even got to feel him after I had a particularly yummy Mexican lunch! 
Making more decisions about his name.  We are getting close!  

Miss Anything? No, I guess I consider myself lucky to not be craving anything I can't have.  I would give up anything for him though! Yes, even chocolate!

Movement: Yeah, he did scare me mid week last week.  He was not very squirmy at all.  Although, I wasn't feeling very well either so maybe he was feeling what I was feeling.  He is back to moving probably over 100 times a day.  I love it!

Food cravings: Fruits, veggies, pasta salad, chocolate. 

Food aversions: Nothing!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, but lots of things have been making Kiel queasy!  I've been talking a lot about the birth and he isn't handling it well!

Ailments: Apparently last week my heartburn was getting better, well now it is awful!  I can't sit for too long since it hurts so much, but I don't want to stand because I'm tired.  Grr!   

Have you started to show yet: Yep!

Gender prediction: Perfect little baby boy!

Labor Signs: No, but my yoga instructor did what she calls a "little adjustment" which basically massages my hips and back.  She noticed my hips have opened in the last week.  Another sign that I am getting ready to deliver this boy!

Belly Button in or out? Flat?  It is now pretty much the same level as my belly.  It looks soooooo weird!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy.  So happy to be feeling happy.  I have been a little emotional, but not crazy or bitchy, just sappy!

Looking forward to: Oh so much, hearing baby boy again this week, starting child birth class next week, my work shower the week after that, our babymoon, vacation, getting the room set, doing baby boy's laundry and organizing the clothes we have already.  I may be on the verge of the nesting instinct.  I want to do so much, just haven't gotten the urge to actually do it yet!

Kiel just had to take the pic on Saturday morning (3/24/12) as I was about to leave for yoga.  Now I see why, I totally look like I stuffed something under my shirt.  Also, the girls at yoga totally noticed that I "popped" over the past two weeks.  Yeah, I'm pretty much bigger than the lady who is due in 8 weeks!

We went to a wedding on Saturday night.  I was hoping to look pregnant in this pic, but I think I just look fat!  Other people at the wedding noticed I was preggo though so I guess it is just the angle of the picture.  Baby boy moved around all night!  I felt so bad, he never moves for that many hours in a row (like 4) but the music was so loud he probably felt all the weird vibrations and was wondering what was going on.  It was kind of stressing me out to be in that environment.  Yeah, I have issues!  I'm sure he was fine!

100 Days

I missed our 100 day celebration!  I can't believe we are down into double digits until little boy makes his appearance!  I cannot wait!!!!

Just a thought. . .

What do you do when you realize everything you ever wanted is coming (or has come) true . . .

The Gender Reveal

I really wanted to do a gender reveal party after seeing pictures of some on pinterest.  I thought this was a great way to get the whole family involved in this special moment, especially since this will be the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents.  We didn't go over the top, and just wanted to enjoy a very special moment with our family and friends.  Below are photos taken by my bestie, Lauren.  I also included a video taken by the M family.  I am so grateful to have so many supportive friends and family members!  I can't wait to introduce baby boy to everyone!

The box with the big surprise!

Pesky waiting to see if he will have a baby brother or sister. 

 Decorations

My mom made some festive cupcakes. 

Team Boy (the reveal happened to be the same day as the Super Bowl with the Patriots and Giants)

Team Girl

Just like mom, the grandmas couldn't decide if baby would be a boy or a girl. 

The audience (Notice my sister with the computer.  My brother is away at college and wanted to see the event happen live!  Technology is awesome!)

Taking directions from the audience.

The anticipation was killing me!

 BLUE!!!

The note from the tech that remained sealed!

Auntie's All Star

Mommy's New Man!

He will surely be a Sox fan!

My little bump!

We had our friends and family make costume onesies!

Reviewing the reveal!

My Besties-Team Girl and Team Boy Represented!

I love this video more than words can say.  I can't wait to share it with baby boy.  I am so happy we found out this way.  It will be a moment I will cherish forever!

Addiction...

If my friends hadn't pressured me to start reading The Hunger Games, I probably would have finally blogged about the gender reveal party tonight.  But I am a hopeless addict.  It takes all my effort not to throw my current book into my school bag each morning.  So until I finish the third book, I'm not sure how much posting I'll be able to squeeze in.  I am currently about 100 pages away from finishing the second book.

Be back soon!

Don't forget to take my little due date poll to the right!

25 Weeks

Okay, I don't know if it is just me, but I seem to be getting very big, very fast.  It is starting to freak me out since I just read that you can have gestational diabetes and have no symptoms.  I really hope this is not the case for me, but it could explain this rapid growth.  

So this week we have been able to feel little boy moving a lot more.  He also more consistently reacts to  voices; mine and Kiel's in particular.   Especially in the morning, I have noticed no movement and then we start talking and. . . . wiggle wiggle wiggle, there he is!  For a while I was thinking he had a high frequency hearing loss since he only responded to bass in music and Kiel's voice.  But now, I can tell he hears my voice, which is not deep at all!  

On Friday night I may have had my first experience with Braxton Hicks contractions.  I was so uncomfortable, and couldn't put my finger on what I was feeling.  After explaining it to my mom, she seemed pretty convinced I was experiencing these "practice contractions."  Again, I was freaking out because I thought I would feel like this for the next 15 weeks.  Well, lucky for me by Sunday I was feeling perfectly normal!   And today (Monday) I felt great, except for the heartburn I sometimes feel when I sit.  Luckily, that seems to subside a bit if I stand up. 

-The Weekly List -

How far along? 25 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Okay, so I'm up about 14 pounds.  Again, I'm freaking since I'm gaining weight way too fast.  I have been eating more, but not more junk, just more fruits and veggies.  

Maternity clothes? Yep, and I've been stealing Kiel's cloths too!

Stretch marks? Nothing yet, and I'm still using my cocoa butter.  Let's see if I can avoid the genetics!

Sleep: His movements kept me up for the first time on Saturday night.  Overall, I've been sleeping okay, but I'm already not very comfortable.  I can only imagine how bad it is going to get!

Best moment this week: Not baby related-Seeing my bro for the first time in 2 months, watching his first college home run, and having him rub my belly!  He was shocked to see how big I have gotten.  

Miss Anything? Not really. 

Movement: Yep, all the time.  However, he does not move when I put my hand on my belly.  Oh and the other day I was using my belly as a book holder and he kept kicking it.  That was fun!

Food cravings: Fruits, veggies, and I'm losing my craving for Oreo actually, but not for cookies and cream ice cream!

Food aversions: Nothing!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Raw meat at the hibachi dinner the other night.  Blah!

Ailments: Heartburn (but less severe), possible Braxton Hicks contractions.   

Have you started to show yet: Yep!

Gender prediction: Boy! Oh, Boy!

Labor Signs: No, but my body might be getting ready!  Kiel and I are both convinced I won't make it to July 2nd, but hopefully we can wait until at least mid June!

Belly Button in or out? In, and I'm predicting it will be out by 27 weeks :(

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and getting really exciting for all that is to come!

Looking forward to: Getting baby boy's room going (that probably won't happen till close to April Vacation), seeing and holding baby boy, possibly finalizing the name in the near future too (but it will still be a secret for the rest of you!) 

Baby Love CD vol. 4?

Here are some new songs to add to my CD (or iPod playlist) that make me think of baby boy.  

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small . . .

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance . . .

The Maternity Leave Thing...

For most of my adult life I have lived in an urban area.  Why is this important?  Well, I feel like the range of mothers in urban areas is absolutely ridiculous.  In my experience working in schools, as a nanny, and a private tutor I have encountered thousands of mothers and they make up what I call the mother triangle.

At each point of the triangle I place a different type of mother.

There are the "I make babies and pay other people to take care of them" mothers.
There are the "I make babies and stay home with them and don't let anyone else touch them" mothers.
There are the "I make babies so I can get more Welfare money" mothers

And in the middle there are the "I make babies and I wish I could stay home and take care of them, but I have to make a living" mothers.

Can you guess where I'm going to fall?

I have seen so many mothers have babies, only to go back to their high paying downtown jobs just weeks (or in some cases days) after giving birth.  They don't seem to have any problem handing their children off to a (usually foreign) nanny for 15+ hours a day.  They make babies because they are cute and look nice at church and it is just what people with money do.

Then there are the moms who stop living their own lives and become so overly consumed with their babies.  They stop working and don't trust anyone to watch their children.  The children are involved only in activities they can supervise.

I don't even want to get into the welfare moms...

Although a small part of me wishes I could stay home for the next 5-7 years to be with my baby, I know in the long run, my child will learn so much being at a daycare.   I also want my child to see how passionate Mommy is about her job.  My career is very important to me.  I have worked so hard to get where I am, and I want my child to see how important being a successful career woman is to me.

I have also encountered many children who do not attend daycare.  All I have to say about those kids is that they have almost no (appropriate) social skills, they do not become good students, and they are all-around brats!

I guess what I want for my child is a balance.  The best way I can offer that is to continue working so I can help maintain a comfortable life for our family as well as find the best daycare provider possible for him.

Hopefully my choice to go back to work after a 5 month leave works out for the best.  Only time will tell. . .

If you have been reading my comments from Kate, you will happy to know that Bump is no longer just a bump.  He is a baby boy named Oliver, who came into this world last night at 9:30.  Word on the street (or in the hallways at school) is that the whole family is doing great!  I cannot wait to meet him!

Welcome to the HMS family Oliver!

24 Weeks a.k.a 6 Months!!

Over the past few days I have been really starting to feel pregnant.  Not technically in a bad way, just a LARGE way!  So here are some issues I have been having with my new bowling ball like belly . . .

• Reversing my car is not easy.  I don't like relying on my mirrors and it is getting really hard to twist to see behind me. 
• Eating at the table.  I have food issues!  I can't keep food on my fork, so I tend to lean over the table to keep the food from falling.  Now I can't get close enough to the table to prevent food from falling all over myself!
• Picking stuff up off the floor. 
• Rolling over in bed. 
• Getting out of bed.
• Shaving my legs!
• Tying/putting on my shoes.
• Washing dishes. 

I think that is all for now!  The list will probably get longer as the weeks progress. 

On a positive note, prenatal yoga began again on Saturday.  I am in love!  It is the best part of my week!  I feel so light and strong when the session is over.  She is also inspiring me to try for a natural birth instead of the epidural I thought I wanted.  With all the exercises I'm learning and the great breathing and focusing drills she is teaching, I think there is a good chance I could handle a natural birth.  However, I am not straying from my "No birth plan - birth plan"  if that makes sense to anyone.  

-The Weekly List -

How far along? 24 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Last Wednesday I was +9 at the doc.  Today I am +10 on my bathroom scale.  I am packing on those pounds!

Maternity clothes? Everyday!  I think I may have to borrow one of Kiel's T-shirts for yoga since all of mine are too short now.  

Stretch marks? Nothing yet! 

Sleep: Not great, but not horrible either.  I wake up a lot to roll over and go to the bathroom.  It is getting old fast!

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move all over the place.  Hearing his heartbeat again.  Kiel feeling him just by being close to me and not even trying to feel him!  

Miss Anything? Does being thin count?

Movement: Yep, when I snuggled with Kiel the other morning I had my belly to his back and he could feel the baby moving.  It was pretty cool!

Food cravings: Not really.  Just the usual: strawberries, grapes, oranges, and OREOS!

Food aversions: Nothing!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, but I have been smelling things again.  And by things, I mean PEOPLE!

Ailments: Heartburn is better since I stopped drinking soda, but it is still there after I eat.  It has everything to do with the fact that my stomach is getting more and more squished.  

Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah! 

Gender prediction: Boy! Boy! Boy!

Labor Signs: No, thank god!

Belly Button in or out? In, but I doubt it will be for long. :(  

Wedding rings on or off? On and not feeling tight at all!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but when I get too tired I am miserable.  I'm sure Kiel will talk about my Friday night meltdown last week for years to come.  Five 13+ hour days in a row were just too much for my mind and body to handle last week. 

Looking forward to: Painting baby boy's room.  Continuing on my search for more goodies for him.  Feeling him some more.  Seeing him.  Discussing names again.